Kiwanis Indiana Balloon Fest Lifts Off at West Boggs Park August 28–29
Terry Dailee
Contributor
By Mr. Newz
Loogootee / West Boggs Park, Ind. — August 17, 2026
Colorful hot air balloons will rise over the waters of West Boggs Lake later this month as the Kiwanis Indiana Balloon Fest moves to a new home in the Loogootee area for its 2026 edition.
The two-day event is scheduled for Friday, August 28, and Saturday, August 29, at West Boggs Park, the 1,600-acre recreational facility that straddles the Martin and Daviess county line along U.S. 231. Organizers shifted the festival to the park this year to allow more space for both balloon operations and expanded ground activities, expecting larger crowds than in recent seasons.
A Fundraiser with Deep Roots
The Balloon Fest is the signature annual fundraiser for the Kiwanis Club of South Central Indiana and the broader Hoosier Division of Indiana Kiwanis. Proceeds support children’s programs, community service projects, and causes such as Riley Children’s Hospital.
Vanessa McClary, longtime organizer and founder of the festival, has been the driving force behind the event since its beginning. McClary, who has served as Lieutenant Governor for the Hoosier Division, founded the South Central Indiana Kiwanis Club in 2006 with the goal of making membership more accessible to working people. She has consistently framed the Balloon Fest as more than entertainment.
“People want to see balloons, they want to see skydivers, but the real reason we are here is to support Kiwanis and the kids they serve,” McClary said in previous years. The festival has grown from a relatively modest gathering of balloons at the Monroe County Fairgrounds into an international award-winning event that draws pilots, vendors, and families from across the region.
Early installments in the 2010s featured special-shape balloons — penguins in Hawaiian shirts, Tweety Bird, scarecrows, and Wizard of Oz themes among them — along with night glows, tethered rides, and family activities. By its 10th year in 2022 and 12th installment in 2024, the festival had become a reliable late-summer tradition, rotating between Bloomington-area and Lawrence County fairgrounds before landing at West Boggs for 2026.
What to Expect This Year
The 2026 festival keeps the core attractions while adding new elements suited to the lakeside setting:
- Hot air balloon launches and special-shape balloons
- Night glow displays and fireworks
- Tethered balloon rides
- Pyrotechnic skydiver shows (returning)
- Charity golf scramble benefiting Riley Children’s Hospital
- Jeep Show & Shine
- Adult and youth egg hunts with prizes
- Pony rides, bounce houses, kids crafts, and putt-putt
- Live entertainment, food vendors, and a beer and wine garden
- Balloon trading cards and a photo contest
- Access to the park’s swimming beach and camping options
Organizers are encouraging visitors to book lodging early. West Boggs Park offers more than 200 campsites, cabins, and mobile home rentals, while hotels and other accommodations in Loogootee and nearby Montgomery are expected to fill quickly.
Practical Information
West Boggs Park is located at 16117 U.S. 231, Loogootee. Gate admission applies (typical recent pricing has been in the $30-per-day range or carload options, with advance tickets often available). The event remains weather-dependent for balloon activities, as is standard for outdoor balloon festivals.
For the latest schedule, ticket information, and updates, follow the Kiwanis Indiana Balloon Fest on social media or check local listings through West Boggs Park and southern Indiana tourism channels.
For Martin County families and visitors, the move to West Boggs brings a regional favorite closer to home — a weekend of color in the sky, practical fundraising for children’s causes, and a classic late-summer gathering on the lake.
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